Claims of discrimination by the Ansonia Housing Authority Settled

Nia Sanders |
6/12/2014, 11:30 a.m.

Allegations of discrimination by the city of Ansonia and the Ansonia Housing Authority (AHA) in Ansonia, Connecticut were recently settled by the U.S Department of Housing and Urban Development [HUD].

The Ansonia Housing Authority refused to rebuild units at the Riverside Housing Complex after HUD approved the AHA to demolish specific units in the complex. The Riverside Housing Complex is a low-income public housing complex formerly funded by HUD.

The units were not rebuilt, leaving African Americans, Hispanics, and families with children dislocated. The mayor was accused of letting this materialize and intruding in the reconstruction.

Some of the residents that complained saw this as a violation of the Fair Housing Act, which- according to HUD- "makes it unlawful to discriminate on the basis of race, color, and national origin in program and activities receiving federal financial assistance."

According to the settlement, a building committee will oversee the redevelopment and the city will support this construction by making an official statement of approval.